When you look through the lens of a camera, you get to showcase your perspective of the world in a single work of art. When you look at someone else’s photos and videos, you get a look into the world as they view it. Claire Schmitt, a senior majoring in film, has a creative eye that can capture a vision of the world like no other.
During the school year, you can often find her running around State College making videos as a THON production captain, working on personal projects with fellow content creators, designing her own clothes, or journaling. Otherwise, she’s working around the clock with Visionary Music Group, an independent record label notable for producing musical talents such as Logic, Jon Bellion, Quinn XCII and on-the-rise singer-songwriter, Chelsea Cutler.
Though initially a pre-med major, Claire’s creative side kept calling out to her. She grew up in a very creative environment — her mother does needlework and embroidery, her sister is a printmaker, and her brother works for a creative campaign media company. Working for VaynerMedia in the summer of 2017 as a production intern, Claire was running an errand when she stumbled into the office of Harrison Remler, the COO of Visionary Music Group.
Claire and Harrison got caught in a conversation, and he ended up asking her to send him some of her work. After seeing some of her portfolio, Harrison asked her to do some videography and photography for the upcoming Logic concert. Little did Claire know that this would end up becoming a regular gig for her. Even as she studied abroad, Claire got word that Logic was touring in Denmark and wound up shooting for them nearly halfway around the world. Since then, she has worked with VMG at Governors Ball Music Festival, the 2018 VMAs, and on tour with Quinn XCII and Chelsea Cutler.
Claire was hesitant to start in film because she knew so little about it, but she soon discovered it’s all about learning as you go. She knew the basic skills, but found that confidence, passion and patience are key in learning the craft.
“My sophomore year, I didn’t have any clue about what I was doing with film,” Claire says. “I was a [THON] PR captain for social media, and [the production captains] took me under their wing and instilled this confidence in me that I can do anything I want to do.”
Claire released her very first music video on Feb. 15, 2019, which was composed of 2,112 individually hand-drawn, digital animations.
“I made doodles on Instagram and [Quinn XCII] saw it. He loved it and asked me to make a music video for one of his songs,” Claire says. “Animation is crucial to my career — like make or break. Animation is not something that’s being used in music videos, so it’s important to capitalize on that. It’s worth it to see the end product.”
Claire shares a special bond with one VMG performer in particular, Chelsea Cutler. She often finds herself in awe of Chelsea and how vulnerable she can be through her music.
“She is one of the most talented people I’ve ever met,” Claire says. “She’s constantly working, constantly writing. She produces all her own work. She’s very true to herself. She’s very open about her own mental state. I am lucky to call her my best friend. She has taught me so much just about believing in myself.”
Claire also carries her art from the camera to the sewing machine, and she simply does it as a passion project. She is working on putting together a clothing line of her own for fun.
“I want most of [my pieces] to be a collaboration with someone to show my relationship with that person and to elicit a collaboration of creativity from different fields, so I see different expressions from each piece of clothing I produce.”
In all that she does, whether it be creating art through filmmaking, animating or designing, she hopes to inspire people to follow their dreams.
She is creative. She is innovative. She is: claire.